Sourdough Sam
Well-known member
- Mar 20, 2019
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There's a reoccurring theme surrounding the San Francisco 49ers recent free agency re-signings. While there have been a number of factors that played into each player's decision to return to the 49ers, a common thread among all of them is what Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have established since taking over the franchise in 2017: culture.
Seventh-year nickel corner K'Waun Williams can attest to that notion. According to various reports, Williams received interest from several teams after hitting the open market in mid-March, including being courted by the Kansas City Chiefs. The corner also toyed with the opportunity to return to his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. The stars appeared to align for Williams with the potential to reunite with former 49ers defensive coordinator and now New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who has repeatedly spoken very highly of the cornerback.
Instead, Williams opted to re-sign with the 49ers on a one-year deal on Friday. Familiarity played a role in his decision. But it was ultimately what the 49ers have built in-house that made returning to San Francisco his desired outcome.
"All the deals were pretty similar at the time, so I chose the 49ers," Williams said Tuesday. "I couldn't deny playing with some of my teammates on our secondary, you've got Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt, Jason Verrett. All those guys. Just being able to play one more year with those guys was too intriguing."
Heading into the offseason, the 49ers had more than 35 players set to his free agency, with nearly every significant contributor in the secondary on an expiring contract. San Francisco managed to retain a number of key starters, including Tartt, Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley and Dontae Johnson among other names. Even on the opposite side of the ball, Williams has taken an appreciation to Shanahan and Lynch's ability to fortify their roster and keep "the core" of the 49ers as intact as financially possible.